Nine Teeth, Nine Stories, One Reckoning: A Look at Clark’s Mythic Reimagining of History
P. Djèlí Clark has firmly established himself as a master of short fiction. Known for his lush worldbuilding and layered explorations of myth, history, and justice, Clark’s stories often feel bigger than the space they occupy. The Secret Lives of the Nine Negro Teeth of George Washington, published in Fireside Magazine in February 2018, is no exception. Though not my favorite among his works, it’s undeniably powerful, an inventive, unsettling meditation on legacy, power, and the ghosts that history tries to forget.
The story won the 2018 Nebula Award for Best Short Story, and it’s easy to see why. It takes a real, uncomfortable truth, George Washington’s dentures were partially made from the teeth of enslaved people, and turns it into a speculative framework for haunted reckoning. Each of the nine teeth becomes a window into the life it once belonged to, and each carries its own magic, myth, and consequence. Some bring whispers and guilt. Others bring visions or curses. All leave an imprint.
As with much of Clark’s work, the historical and the fantastical are seamlessly intertwined. The prose is elegant and evocative, especially in passages like this:
“When he wore that tooth, George Washington complained of hearing the heavy fall of a hammer on an anvil day and night.”
The story’s structure reads more like nine interconnected vignettes than a single narrative arc, which might feel fragmentary to some readers. I found myself wishing for more time with each tooth, more connective tissue between the episodes. But perhaps that’s the point: these are glimpses, echoes, the stolen voices of lives never fully allowed to speak.
This story isn’t quite as narratively tight or emotionally immersive as The Black God’s Drums, which remains my favorite of Clark’s shorter works. But even so, The Secret Lives is daring and original. It forces us to ask: what lingers in the objects we inherit? What does it mean to build a country, literally, on the bones and breath of the oppressed?
It’s a short read. A free read. And a worthy one.
You can read it here: Fireside Magazine – The Secret Lives of the Nine Negro Teeth of George Washington
I love the sound of the world-building in particular too. I haven’t heard of this but it sounds very promising. Thank you for sharing!
It is a quick read but worth it.
I’ve been meaning to read this one. I’m really hoping to see more from him and he may make me enjoy the novella.
He is on his game when it comes to novellas and short stories. This one is quite short, you can check it out and get a sense of his style in about a half hour.